Riding for Roses

This blog has been all Rob’s gonna be on TV, come to Tour Watch, and “donate to support cancer survivors lately. What about Spencer? Spencer is in for his third week of intensive chemotherapy tomorrow. So far, he’s taking it like a champ, both physically and mentally.

Today is my second day with a crew from the Discovery Network filming a show about Lance Armstrong fans that will air (in September is the current plan) on the Travel Channel. They first got hooked up with me through this blog and I’ve gotten them in touch with Tour Watch 2005 to do some shooting there. Come join us at Central Market North any time during the day from July 2-24 (rest days July 11, 18) to view the Tour de France, podcast, relax, read books about cycling, and learn about the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Founded in 2001 by two child life specialists with pilot funding from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Austin-based Wonders and Worries provides an array of therapeutic activities geared toward children, youth and families coping with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. They offer counseling, therapy sessions for children who have parents with cancer, training classes in child parent relationships (filial therapy is the official clinical name for the technique), and other services.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation has kicked off their “Seven for Survivors” program. It is built around the number 7: Lance’s bid for Tour de France victory number 7, a 7 million dollar goal for the 2005 Ride for the Roses, 7 facts about cancer, 7 things the LAF does to help people living with cancer, and 7 stories about people living with cancer. I am one of this people

As of this posting, Spencer has raised $6,071.13 towards his $25,000 goal of fundraising for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I’ve been tracking against a plan of raising $15,000 through soliciting donations and $10,000 through events. To stay on target for the donations, we need $56.03 by tomorrow night. Your small donation could help Spencer achieve his dream of supporting cancer survivors, obtaining a Peloton Project Yellow Jersey, and riding 40 miles in the Ride for the Roses to celebrate his one year anniversary of being diagnosed with leukemia.

Sometimes odd things come from blogging. Two serendipitous contacts due to my blog have somewhat snowballed. The first, which I have mentioned before, is the Tour Watch 2005 Tour de France viewing event at Central Market. It will include large screen viewing of the Tour, interviews with local cycling fans, interviews with people at the Tour, opportunities to create your own podcast, cancer surivor information, fundraising for Spencer’s Ride for the Roses, and other stuff to be announced. The second is stranger and yet related. The Discovery Channel is sending a filming crew to Austin and they want to follow me around for a couple of days and film “typical” activities.

Today was one of those awesome breaks from routine that make life a lot easier. I volunteer at the Lance Armstrong Foundation and today was another picnic for the LAF staff and volunteers.

K-EYE news anchor Allison Smith came out to Central Market on Thursday to do a story on the Tour Watch 2005 Tour de France viewing event. The story airs on K-EYE Sunday Morning News at 10 AM June 26.

My five year old son, Spencer, conned me into agreeing to help him raise $25,000 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation by riding 40 miles in the Ride for the Roses this Fall. It turns out the ride weekend is October 21-23, 2005, and October 22 will be Spencer’s one year anniversary of his diagnosis with [...]

Austin is getting ready for the Tour de France. Tour Watch 2005 is at Central Market every riding day during the Tour de France from 8 AM to 9 PM. It will include Tour watching, interviews with local folks, remote feeds from France, podcasting, 24 Hour Fitness excitement, Trek drink tastings, and a Lance Armstrong Foundation table.